French far-right politician Marine Le Pen, who is set to run in the 2027 presidential election, has been convicted of embezzling EU funds. This conviction poses a significant hurdle to her candidacy. While the court has yet to announce her sentence, prosecutors have demanded a fine of 300,000 euros and a ban on holding public office for five years. Le Pen has stated that she will appeal the verdict, arguing that barring her from elections during an appeal would be unjust.

France is seeking the return of the Statue of Liberty from the United States. On Sunday, French lawmaker Raphaël Glucksmann made the call, arguing that the values for which the statue was gifted no longer align with present-day America. The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of American independence, was presented as a gift from France in 1885, representing human rights, freedom, and democracy. Glucksmann stated that those who still believe in scientific freedom and human rights should support reclaiming the statue. He also criticized Donald Trump’s stance on Ukraine and various immigration policies.

A knife attack in Mulhouse, France, left one person dead and three police officers injured. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the incident as an “Islamist terrorist attack.” A 37-year-old Algerian suspect was arrested at the scene. Reports indicate that the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” before launching the assault. The deceased, a 69-year-old Portuguese national, was reportedly assisting the police when he was fatally stabbed.

The French government has officially recognized Imamate as a profession and included it in the country’s employment list. The announcement was made by France’s Interior Minister during the closing session of the French Islam Forum, a government initiative aimed at improving relations between the state and representatives of the Muslim community. This recognition establishes Imamate as a structured and legitimate profession within France.

During the high-level “AI Action Summit” held in Paris, world leaders discussed the future of artificial intelligence (AI), policy frameworks, and ethical use. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized Europe’s commitment to AI development while ensuring environmental sustainability. While 60 countries, including India, signed the AI governance declaration, both the United States and the United Kingdom refused to sign, raising questions about their stance on AI regulations.

French President Emmanuel Macron has dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, denouncing it as "ethnic cleansing." In an interview with CNN, Macron called for respecting Palestinians and their Arab neighbors. He stated, "You cannot simply tell two million people to relocate. This is not real estate; this is a political operation." He further expressed opposition to large-scale military actions against civilians.

French President Emmanuel Macron has accused Elon Musk of interfering in European elections by supporting reactionary movements. Speaking to ambassadors, Macron criticized Musk's influence, especially in Germany's elections, where Musk has endorsed far-right parties. This adds to the tension between European leaders and Musk, who uses his platform, X, to push political views, raising concerns over the impact of tech moguls on democracy and the ethical use of social media in political contexts.